SHOCK STATS
Urgent warning as road deaths involving learner drivers trebles in just four years
2024 could see the worst year for road safety in 25 years
AN urgent warning has been issued to motorists as road deaths involving learner drivers have trebled in just four years.
The recent increase in road deaths has led to calls for a ban on drivers getting multiple learner permits without taking a driving test.
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A Road Safety Authority (RSA) document given to Taoiseach Simon Harris has revealed that 11 learner drivers were in fatal accidents last year, the worst year for road deaths in a decade.
This record number compares to the three learner driver deaths reported four years earlier in 2019.
Between three and five learner drivers were involved in fatal accidents annually in the same time frame.
The document also highlighted that deaths among 16-25 year olds almost doubled in five years, from an average of 25 to 48 in 2023.
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This age group was reported to have the highest proportion of fatalities at 26 pc and serious injuries at 22 per cent last year.
The road safety campaign group Parc is now calling for an urgent reform to Ireland's driving test regulations.
The safety group wants rules changed so a third learner permit can only be obtained if the driver has taken the test, not just apply for it as the regulation currently stands.
Over 11,000 drivers had learner permits for more than 20 years, and there are over 290,000 learner permit holders in Ireland.
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Parc founder Susan Gray who lost her husband in a road accident has spoken up about the issuing of learner permits.
She said: "Since 2013, they have been talking about closing this loophole and making sure that a learner permit is only renewed when the applicant actually sits their driving test."
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Susan also criticised the RSA's recent request to increase the driving test fee, questioning how it would encourage learners to stop renewing their permits without taking a test.
"How do they propose to encourage learners to stop rolling over permits without sitting the test if they increase the cost of the test?"
It has been revealed that over 6,000 learner drivers missed their tests in 2023, yet the RSA renewed their permits.
Traffic fatalities have increased by nearly 15 per cent in the past year, with 86 deaths, 11 more than 2023.
WORST ROAD SAFETY YEAR IN DECADE
Safety campaigners fear that the rest of 2024 could be even worse.
Parc stressed the need for more personnel and resources for gardai to enforce road safety regulations and promote better driver education.
The gardai's Road Policing Unit (RPU) personnel numbers have dropped significantly in the last 15 years, now at only 623 officers which includes those not active on duty.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said that €2.35billion allocation has been made to the gardai this year.
Minister McEntee said that future road policing vehicles will have Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology (ANPR).
She said: "It is anticipated that all future purchases of roads policing vehicles will be fitted out with ANPR technology prior to unit allocation."
If the current rate of fatalities continues, Ireland could see over 225 deaths by the end of this year, which would be the worst for road safety in over 25 years.
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